Buffon: PSG need more than money

Gigi Buffon has told Paris Saint-Germain that it doesn’t matter how much money you have – the key thing is how you spend it.

GigiBuffon has told Paris Saint-Germain that it doesn’t matter how much money you have – the key thing is how you spend it.

The French club are one of the world’s strongest economical forces and spent around €100m in Italy this summer by signing Thiago Silva, ZlatanIbrahimovic, EzequielLavezzi and Marco Verratti.

However, the Juventus and Italy custodian has told Le Parisien that money can’t buy you tradition in this game.

“PSG are a lucky club, they have a lot of money,” he stated. “But, in football, the richest don’t always win.

“Some clubs have less money, but they spend it better and the history of a club also counts. Perhaps in 50 years they will talk about PSG more than Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus – but not now.”

PSG have a number of Italian internationals in their ranks, including former Pescara gem Verratti and ex-Palermo ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu.

“Marco is today a first team starter in a big club, that is in the Champions League, which is what they promised him in Paris. In Italy, nobody had the courage to offer him the same,” Buffon noted.

“Sirigu? He’s a good kid, an explosive and reactive goalkeeper. Sirigu did well by going to France.

“It’s a very delicate role in Italy where you can do well for six months, make two errors and then be replaced. Salvatore cut the umbilical cord with Italy and that is a good thing for his development.”

Buffon is currently on international duty preparing for the game against France, a tie where he will come up against former Juventus boss Didier Deschamps.

“It’s not a surprise to see him as the French manager. He was already a Coach on the pitch. His footballing philosophy isn’t Italian, it is European seeing as he played in four countries. He put the best of those experiences in his suitcase.

“France? I like Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery to death, but they can do even better. For me, they have the qualities and the potential to reach the level of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.”